| L. R. Eswari = L.R.ஈஸ்வரி | |
|---|---|
| Born |
7 December 1939 Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Genres | Playback singing, Carnatic music |
| Occupations | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocalist |
| Years active | 1950s-current |
L. R. Eswari "L.R.ஈஸ்வரி"is a Veteran playback singer of the Tamil movie industry. She also sang in other languages like Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Tulu, and English.[1]
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She was born in Chennai into a Roman Catholic family to Anthony Devraj and Regina Mary Nirmala. Her ancestors were from Paramagudi near Madurai. Her full name is Lourde-Mary Rajeshwari. Since there was already another established singer with the name of M.S.Rajeshwari her name was abbreivated into L.R.Eshwari. She did not have any formal training in singing. Her mother was a chorus singer in films. Eshwari used to accompany her mother to the studios and soon began singing in the chorus herself, but quickly got a break to lend her voice as lead-singer. Her first break came from Sri K.V.Mahadevan in 1958 in the movie 'Periya Idaththu Sammandham', her first solo song recorded in this movie was 'ivarey thaan avarey'. But major recognition came from the song 'vaarai en thozhi vaaraayo' from the movie 'paasa malar' (1961) sung under the baton of Viswanathan-Ramamurthy, which composers explored and exploited her vocal abilities to the maximum extent possible over the next 20 years.
She sang under the direction of famous composers like M.S.Viswanathan, K. V. Mahadevan, Ilayaraja and Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan. Her unique voice was considered to be suited for peppy numbers in the movies, be it a dance tune, folk song or a devotional track. Her song "Vaarayo Thozhi" from Paasa Malar was a popular choice for wedding music.
She has also recorded many devotional albums in praise of the Goddess Amman which were hugely popular among the Tamil community and were played in many temples. Her "Chellatha" and "Karpoora Nayagi" numbers has won her a lot of fame among devotees. She has won the Kalaimamani Award and other states awards.
She sang romantic songs filmed on heroines as well as cabarets filmed on dance-artistes and also folk songs. If she was the queen of the jazz variety music having the right verve and attitude to sing them (eg. varavendum oru pozhudhu, vandhaal ennodu, idhu verulagam), she was equally at ease with native folk numbers having the perfect vigour and vibrance to sing them (eg. vaadai kaatramma, kattodu kuzhalaada), brilliant in dance numbers owing to the rhythm and swing in her voice (eg.aadavaralaam, kangalukenna, ammaan magan enge avan, adada enna azhagu, pattathu raani), sounded natural and effortless in the most soft and whispery numbers sung with exemplery control and feel (eg.ammamma keladi thozhi, kadhodu thaan, pattu chiragu konda) and brought a rare warmth to all her romantic numbers (eg.avan kaathalithaan, kannirendum minna minna, angam puthuvidham, maranthey pochu). Her style was most unique, and she remains the most unimitable singer to this day in the indian music industry. Her voice has a very haunting quality to it, as well as a deep pathos, and for this reason she was used in many songs just for a couple seconds of humming, but even those couple seconds made those songs immemorable in her name – Ettil ezhudhi vaiththen, kallellaam maanikka, pavazha kodiyile, nenjathai alli konjam, engeyo paarthamugam to name but a few. While quite adept and more than adequate in the usual happy, sad and peppy songs, she was the singer of choice for the unusual songs that expressed frustaration, bitterness, sarcasm etc. (eg maappillai ragasiyam sollava, ennadi ulagam, ellorum paarkka en ullaasa vazhkkai, enakku vantha indha) in which songs she excelled herself.
Perhaps she and P.Susheela were the most popular female-duet-duo ever, they complimented each other perfectly in terms of voice and style, and sang very many popular duets in their times – unadhu malar, chiththira poovizhi, ninaithaal sirippu, thoodhu sella etc.. They seemed to share a perfect chemistry and out-did each other line after line, apparently providing each other inspiration all along the song. She sang immemorable duets with all the leading male singers also – T. M. Soundararajan, A.L.Raghavan, P.B.Srinivas, S.P. Balasubramaniam, K.J.Yesudas, Chandra Babu.
Many of the Well-known film, Karaoke,stage,reality show singers and celebrities have undoubtedly accepted that her unique voice, modulation, clarity, high pitch, rhythm, expression,style, feel of the song, can ever be replicated or reproduced or imitated by anyone. Her Voice and songs stands across generations over and remains as fresh as new in the millions of South Indian fans all over the world.
She brought a very rare life and spirit to each song she sang and will remain one of the most unique singers of our country. In some ways she was perhaps ahead of her times.
After a long break, she made her re-entry through a rocky peppy Tamil Song "Kalasala Kalasala " from Movie Osthi 2011. Within few days of this song release, it has became a super hit and reached music box office top ratings.
| Song | Tamil movie |
|---|---|
| Muthukulikka Vareegala | Anubavi Raja Anubavi |
| Mappillai Ragasiyam | Arangketram |
| Adi Ennadi Ulagam | Aval Oru Thodar Kathai |
| Enna Solla Enna Solla | Babu |
| Kangalum Kavadi | Enga Vittu Pillai |
| Puthi Sigamani | Iruvar Ullam |
| Chithirai Poovizhi | Ithayathil Nee |
| Yenna Poruthamadi | Kanavan |
| Aadavaralaam Aada Varalaam | Karuppu Panam |
| Malarendra Mugam Indru | Kaadhalikka Neramillai |
| Enthan Nenjam Yaarai | Kathalithal Pothuma |
| Kathal Penney | Kathalithal Pothuma |
| Maapillai Vanthan | Kaveriyin Kanavan |
| Avala Ivala | Mannathi Mannan |
| Aval Oru Kathanayagi | Moondru Mudichu |
| Singapore Machan | Naam Moovar |
| Pirantha Idam Thedi | Naan Aanaiyittal |
| Dhukkaththilum | Nalla Idathu Sammantham |
| Oh Lakshmi | Neela Vanam |
| Nee Ninaithal | Nilave Nee Satchi |
| Inimai Niraintha Ulagam | Ninaithale Inikkum |
| Naam Oruvarai Oruvar | Oruvar |
| En Vaalibam Ennum Mahligaiyil | Paalkudam |
| Vaarayo Thozhi | Paasa Malar |
| Sonnathellam Nadanthiduma | Padha Kaanikkai |
| Ithazhai Virithathu Roja | Pattanathil Bootham |
| Kaalgal Nindrathu | Poojaikku Vantha Malar |
| Ithu Margazhi Matham | Praptham |
| Sala Sala Kathottam | Praptham |
| Raja Veetu Pennanalum | Raja Veetu Pillai |
| Manamagale Marumagale | Saradha |
| Lilli Lali Jimmy | Selvam |
| Vennila Mugam | Selvamagal |
| Pennai Parthum | Shanthi Nilayam |
| Pushpa Raagam | Thani Kudithanam |
| Naanoru Kaathal | Thavapputhalvan |
| Kottai Mathir Mele | Thirudan |
| Ivalavuthan Ulagam | Ulagam Ivalavuthan |
| Ada Sarithan Podi | Uyira Maanama |
| Savale Samali | Uyira Maanama |
| Enge Enge En Manathu | Vaaliba Virunthu |
| Ammamma Kannathil Kannam | Vallavan Oruvan |
| Palinginal Oru Mahligai | Vallavan Oruvan |
| Kathodhuthan Naan | Velli Vizha |
| Allipanthal Kaalgal | Vennira Aadai |
| Nee Emppathenna | Vennira Aadai |
| Kalasala | Osthi |
| Year | Telugu film | Song |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Panava Vanavasam | Mogali Rekula Sigadaana |
| 1967 | Ummadi Kutumbam | Jigi Jigi Jigelumannadi Chinnadi |
| 1968 | Bandipotu Dongalu | Gandara Ganda Shoggadivanta |
| 1970 | Kathanayika Molla | Naane Cheluve Kannadiki |
| 1970 | Lakshmi Kataksham | Andala Bommanu Nenu Chelikada |
| 1971 | Prem Nagar | Le Le Le Naa Raaja |
| 1972 | Tata Manavadu | Nookalammani Nene Nee Peekani Nokkettane |
| 1973 | Devudu Chesina Manushulu | Masaka Masaka Cheekatilo |
| 1973 | Jeevana Tarangalu | Nandamaya Garuda Nandamaya |
| 1974 | Nippulanti Manishi | Welcome Swagatam Chesta Ninne Paravasam |
| 1976 | Anthuleni Katha | Are Emiti Lokam |
| 1978 | Maro Charithra | Bhale Bhale Magadinoi Bangaru Naasaamivoi |
| 1978 | Pranam Khareedu | Bandameeda Undi Gundodi Debba |
| 1979 | Andamaina Anubhavam | Ananda Thandavame Adenuga Aa Shivudu |